Max Huntington, Ash thought. His cousin. He battled the need to walk out and see them.His family.They would have no wish to see him if they knew he’d taken Dorrie’s innocence, however.
Whenever he allowed himself to think about her, which was far too often, he had a burning need to see her. It came over him fast, like a bloody fever.
“Well, get on with it. We’ll wait out here.”
Cam’s words reached Ash, and he realized he would have to leave here before Lord Ryder, and they would see him. He walked out the door as Lord Ryder returned.
“I know Mr. Sinclair and Mr. Huntington,” Ash said.
“Oh, well in that case I have no need of sheltering you from them,” he said, loud enough for Cam, who was leaning on a shelf, and Max, who was looking at some of the fabrics, to hear.
“Ashford Charlton,” Cam said. He wasn’t smiling.
“Hello, Ash.” Max smiled.
“Gentlemen.” he bowed.
“Leaving without saying goodbye is not done when you are part of a large family,” Cam said.
“I had to get back to my crew.” Ash knew he sounded terse but couldn’t help it. He didn’t need to explain himself. He answered to no one.
Cam straightened and moved to stand before Ash. “Don’t do it again.” The scowl on the man’s face changed into a smile. “Now come, we are to eat pies and then go to a birthday party. There will be cake. Then you can accompany us to Astley’s; tonight they are reenactingIvanhoe,” Cam said.
“I have a matter that I need to attend to.” Ash fought his reaction to the arm Cam slung around his shoulders. “And I do not go into society.”
“It’s not society, it’s a circus. You will enjoy it. Although there will be a great deal of shrieking and begging for refreshments and annoying each other.”
“Which will come from Cam,” Max drawled.
“I have no wish to go to the circus.”Or see your sister, who I made love to.
“Very stuffy of you, but food will set you to rights.” Cam nudged him to the door, then through it. “As I’m sure the next question you were going to ask is how are the family, I shall tell you that Gus, your brother, is good, as is Dorrie. No lasting effects from what that spineless bastard Brunt did. He’s in the hands of the magistrate now. His wife is finally free of his tyranny.”
“I heard about that. Very unsavory character,” Lord Ryder said.
“James and Nicholas are ensuring he is locked up for life or sent on a long journey. Very handy that, having a duke and a marquis in the family.”
“I have a duke, should you need another,” Lord Ryder drawled from behind him.
“Yes, very handy things, dukes,” Cam said, opening the carriage that was outside and pushing Ash in. He had to step in or fall flat on his face.
“I cannot go with you,” Ash said, collecting his wits. “It is best I go alone to my next appointment.”
“Why?” Cam asked him.
He clamped his lips together. “I believe I told you I have something to attend to.” He sat as a hand pushed him down.
The other men climbed in. Max and Lord Ryder sat across from him.
“So do you know how the fire on theFreedomstarted, Captian. Charlton?” Lord Ryder said, crossing a long leg.
They were all big men, but the carriage was spacious.
“Will, this is Ash, Gus’s long-lost brother,” Cam said.
“Clearly he is no longer lost?”
“What happened to your ship?” Max asked.
